Street-sweeping machine.



B. KERN.

STBEET SWEEPING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED MAYI8. 191s.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- B. KERN.

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI8. I916.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

O 9 I g y awwmto'c 75W 16m,

snares PATENT @FFTQE.

BERNARD KERN, OF SANDUSKY, OHIO.

STREET-SWEEPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 11918.

' Application filed May 18, 1916. Serial No. 98,379.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BERNARD KERN, a citizen'of the United States, residing at Sandusky, in the county of Erie andState of tion, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

Th1s inventlon relates to lmprovements in street sweeping machines, andmore specifically to that type of sweeper adapted-to convey the dust orrefuse by a volume of air leading from a point adjacent to thesupporting surface to a suitable place of separation and deposit.

Usually, machines of the character stated employ a broom to loosen thedirt and cause the same to be raised from the street surface into thezone ofinfluence of the air intended to catch and carry the same, asstated. In machines of this class, however, it has been a problem formany years to provide instrumentalities capableof operating not only inthe roadway or street proper, but also in the gutters of the streets, itbeing recognized that to treat accumulations in the gutters or near thestreet curbings a very accurate driving of the machine is required,constantly attended by the danger of impact between the machine andcurb, and consequent breakage or impairing of the former. It has alsobeen diflicult to provide a satisfactory means in the nature of a guttertreating extension from which the dust or dirt released from the gutterwill be conveyed inwardly to the collecting or separating portions ofthe machine without creating objectionable conditions, arising from thedirt moving away from the machine or out of the collecting influencethereof.

With the foregoing matters in mind, the present inventioncontemplatesthe provision of pneumatic releasing and conveying means for gutterrefuse, and also such means disposed to' project laterally beyond thewheel tracks or underframingof the vehi- .cle, but capable of yieldingrearwardly of the line of travel of the vehicle when contacting with acurb or similar obstruction to prevent dama e.

The inventlon further contemplates the provision of an air conductingmeans of a form and arrangement capable of cooperating with separatedust releasing devices arranged to remove the' dust from the street,

Oneoperatingbeneath' the vehicle and the other in the gutter, said dustconducting means preferably including a mouth-piece disposedtransversely of the vehicle and projecting laterally beyond one sidethereof (being the gutter side), the terminal portion of saidmouth-piece being flexibly connected to the remaining major portionthereof to permit the terminal portion to yield under contact with thecurb orthe The invention further embraces means for releasing the dirtor dust from the street surface comprising a means for creating an airblast and a multitude of jet nozzlesin communication therewith adaptedto be discharged at points adjacent to the street surface, andpreferably-the outermost nozzles being directed toward the curb, whilethe greater number thereof are directed toward the vehicle,the formerfor the purpose of disturbing the dust in the corner constituted by thecurb and adjoining street surface, and the latter to disturb the dust onthe outwardly extending surface of the gutter and to-draw and force thedust toward the body of the vehicle and toward the air collecting andconveying means in rear and laterally of said jetdevice beneath thevehicle.

' The preferred embodiment of the invention also presents many improveddetails in construction and arrangement of parts, but these will beclear from the specific description hereinafter contained, when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof andwherein said embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end view of enough of a street sweeper machine utilizingthe present improvements to show the location, construction andoperation of the latter;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the-same;

Fig. 3 is a top view;

Fig. 4 is a front view;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the air jettin device, as shownin Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 1s a vertical sectional view of the mouth-piece extension asshown in Fig. 4.

Referring more specifically to the drawings. wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views, Arepresents a revoluble broom adapted to engage the street surface torelease the dust and dirt from said surface and throw the same into therange of influence of the mouth-piece B, of an air conductor Q, leadingto a fan D, having an outlet E, adapted to lead to any suitableseparator or place of deposit, not necessary to be herein described.'The brush A may berevolved by any suitable means .provided for thatpurpose and the same is held in adjustable relation to the mouth-pieceby a screw rod support 0; having an eye a at its lower end fittingbetween ears a depending from an inverted 'U-shaped bracket a adapted toembrace the top and side walls of the mouthpiece B and "be rivetedthereto, the eye a of the screw-rod support being hinged to the ears bya pivotal pintle a passing therethrough (Fig. 2), this pintle being inthe nature of a horizontal extension on a metal upright or post oflsetrearwardly, as at w, and thence extended vertically, as at a", to

- constitute a hinge post, as will later appear the upper end of thepost being held against displacement by a brace 11', sleeved thereoverand secured to the bracket (1 as at a F is a fixed stop or rest on thehinge post a from which the air jet device for jetting or disturbing thedust in the gutter, generally indicated at G, is supported. This jetdevice comprises a fan g, suitable mounted at any convenient pointbeneath the vehicle adapted to supply an air'blast to a flexible conduitconnection 9, leading to an el-bowed end of an upright metal feed pipe 9clamped in hinge arms 9 and g, embracing the same, and having theirouter ends sleeved for swinging movement upon the hinge post a. The feedpipe 9 has an integral flange or collar 9 from which a hanger gdetachably secured to the hinge arm 9 fits to help maintain the jetdevice from slipping downwardly through the hinge arms. By-having thepair of hinge arms in approximately the same vertical lane, any tendencyof the jet device to tilt aterally in any direction is overcome.

The supply pipe 9 is connected at its lower end to an upwardly openingnipple member 9, having a multitude of nipples 9, depending from thelower flat surface thereof, (Fig. 5), such nipples being detacha'blyengaged by the upper ends of a similar number of flexible tubes g ofrubber or similar hose material, the lower ends of the tubes carryingmetal tips or nozzles G" detachably interfitted therewith and adaptednot only to emit a fine strong jet of air against the surface beingtreated, but protecting the ends of the rubber tubes against wearincident to accidental contact with the street surface or obstructionsthereon.

Preferably, the two outermost series of jetnozzles (each seriesconveniently containing three nozzles) are shaped to cause curb andstreet surface, whereas all of theother jet nozzles are formed toproject their jets downwardly and inwardly in the general direction ofthe body of the machine, thereby to create a strong draft away from thecurb and to exert a tendency to throw the refuse beneath the machine andtoward the broom A in advance of which the jet device operates. Owing tothe flexible connection g and the hinging of the jet device on the posta, it will be understood that the jet device may swing on the hingepost, as will be hereinafter more definitely set forth.

The mouth-piece B is of an elongated character, terminating at its outerend at a point adjacent to the corresponding end of the broom A, but atits inner end projecting a substantial distance beyond the broom so asto occupy a position in advance of the gutter air jet device abovedescribed, the

. mouth-piece nozzle having its receiving inlet inclining somewhatinwardly in the direction of the broom and jet device to beefthroughout, the same as the area of the cylindrical conducting pipe C,and an item of importance to be here emphasized is that the angle .ofinclination of the top walls I) of the mouth-piece is preservedthroughout the length of said top wall, that is, the top wall must becontinuous and straight from the end thereof adjacent the end of the jetdevice up to the point the top wall merges into the cylindrical or trunkportion C. Experience has demonstrated that having difierent portionsofthe' side top wall at varying angles, as for instance by changing Ithe angle at the juncture of the top wall of the mouth-piece with thetop wall of the jet thereof will cause an imperfect dust conveyingaction by the air passing upwardly through the mouth-piece.

The extension of the mouth-piece represented in general at H, has afront wall 71. and rear wall h of metal similar to the metal body of themouth-piece, these walls being pivoted to the adjacent walls of themouth-piece by vertically disposed hinges 71. h, out of alinement, asshown in Fig. 3, to prevent complete closing of the-walls h and h inflat relation to each other when swung on the hinges, .as hereinafterbrought out, and temporarily obstruct the air supply. The top of theextension, as distinguished from the metal top of the body of themouth-piece is formed of flexible material, such as canvas J, the upperend of the I canvas strip belng secured to the top wall of the body ofthe mouth-piece by a suitable clamp j, the front edge thereof beingfastened to the forward upper edge of the wall 72., as at 7', and therear edge being mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the upperedge of the wall it this being accomplished by crimping a metal binding7' to the edge of the canvas and continuing the binding upwardly andaround the top of the wall it, so as to be supported on the latter, theparts being held in position while permitting the slidlng movementreferred to, by a pin and slot engagement y' all as will be readilyunderstood from an examination of Fig. 6.

The metal binding jterminates short of the upper edge .of the top wall Jto provide a flexible hinge part 7' adapted to buckle as the mouthextension swings on its hinges in a rearward direction and when the rearedge of the canvas top J rides upon the top edge'of the wall k. j

Normally the front and rear walls of the mouth extension H are spacedapart by a link K and the jet device and mouth extension are similarlyspaced apart by a link connection L, the latter or both of these linkconnections possessing means enabling lengthwise adjustment if desired.

The extreme outer end of the canvas top J extends outwardly somewhatbeyond the metal side walls to constitute a flexible toe piece M adaptedto yieldably receive the thrust incident to contact with a curb andsecured by an angle bracket m to this toepiece and cooperating therewithis the adjacent end of a verticallydisposed apron N extending across thelower face of the mouth-piece at the front thereof and downwardly fromthe mouth-piece to come-into close proximity or contact at its lower endwith the street sunfa ce to prevent the brushthrowing the "dust or otheraccumulations under the mouth-piece. This apron N may be made insuitable length either continuous or, as preferable, inoverlappingsections, (Fig. 4), the same being formed of flexible material such asleather orrubber having a reinforcing .strip n secured" to the upperedge of the same and carrying bolts n having suitable clamping nutsenabling the apron'to be adjusted, and lowered to allow for wear, in thevertical. slotted portions 0 of brackets O secured at theirupper ofisetinner ends 0 to. the front wall of the body of the mouth-piece and frontwall-of the mouth-piece extension; Conveniently the reinforcing strip n.is omitted in that portion of the apron represented at n topermit,the-.hinging of the mouth-piece extension, the adjacent edges nof the. sectional apron overlapping at this point to permit of thenecessary freedom of movement under the swinging or hinging action.

Of course it is simply necessary, or I might say usually necessary toallow for the swinging movement of the mouth-piece extension andcooperating jet nozzle dev1ce only in a direction rearwardly of thetravel of the machine, and some means must be provided for normallymaintaining the parts in alinement and for restoring the mouth-pieceextension to alined position,

. while preserving its appropriate relation to the jet nozzle deviceafter the same has been deflected by accidental engagement with thecurb, and to this end I mount upon the front metal wall of the extensiona hook P, having an end shank secured at its outer end, as indicated atp, but free at its inner end to bridge the hinge line of the extensionand to contact with the front face of the body of the mouth-piece underthe drawing action of a spring Q fastened at one end to the hook P, andat its other end to any convenient part of the body of the mouth-piece,for example around one of the bolts n beneath the clampin nut carried bythe latter. When the mout -piece extension is swung rearwardly the hookP carried thereby will move forwardly away from the face of the body ofthe mouthpiece, correspondingly expanding the spring Q and as soon asthe obstruction is passed or avoided the contraction of the spring will.pull the hook back into normal position mouth-piece of a length to becommonto' both said main brush and gutter device and having a similarlyyieldable section, and means for. normally holding ,the yieldable partsin their extended positions.

2. In a street'sweeper, the combination with a main brush, of means forreleasing accumulations in a gutter projected laterally beyond said mainbrush, and pneumatic collecting means having a mouth-piece of a lengthtobe common to both said main brush and gutter device, the mouth-piecehaving inclined. top portions leading'to a trunk and extending from oneend of the brush to said trunk and from the end of the gutter device tosaid trunk. r

3. In a street sweeping machine, the com bination with a main brush, ofan auxiliary device for releasing gutter accumulations,-

and pneumatic collecting means having a mouth-piece of a length to becommon to both said brush and gutter device, said mouth-piece leadingto' a trunk portion and having a top wall inclining in a straight linefrom the trunk to the outer end of the gutter device.

4. In a street sweeping machine, the combination of main collectingmeans including a pneumatic conductor having an elongated mouth-piecedisposed transversely of the machine, of a yieldable gutter extensionprojecting laterally from said mouth-piece, means for normally holdingthe yieldable gutter extension of the mouth-piece in its extendedposition, and means for disturbing gutter accumulations operativelyrelated to said mouth-piece extension.

5. In a street sweeping machine, the combination of main collectingmeans including a pneumatic conductor having an elongated mouth-piecedisposed transversely of the machine, of a gutter extension projectinglaterally from said mouth-piece, means for disturbing gutteraccumulations operatively related to said mouth-piece extension, andmeans for pivotally mounting the mouthpiece extension and said lastmentioned gutter device to permit them to give rearwardly upon meetingan obstruction.

6. In a street sweeping machine, the combination of main collectingmeans including a pneumatic conductor having an elongated mou-thpiecedisposed transversely of the machine, of a gutter extension projectinglaterally from said mouth-piece, means for disturbing gutteraccumulations operatively related to said mouth-piece extension, meansfor. pivotally mounting the mouth-piece extension and said lastmentioned gutter device to permit them to give rearwardly upon meetingan obstruction, and means for restoring the parts to normal positionwhen the obstruction is passed.

7. In a street sweeping machine, pneumatic collecting means including anelongated mouth-piece arranged transversely of the machine and having ayieldable gutter extension projected laterally beyond the side of themachine, and means for normally holding the yieldable gutter extensionin its extended position, substantially as described.

8. In a street sweeping machine, pneumatic collecting means including anelongated mouth-piece arranged transversely of the machine and having agutter extension projected laterally beyond the side of the machine, andmeans for pivotally connecting the body of the mouth-piece with itsgutter extension to permit the same to yield when meeting withobstructions.

9. In a street sweeping machine, pneumatic collecting means including anelongated mouth-piece arranged transversely of the machine and having agutter extension projected laterally beyond the side of the machine,means for pivotally connecting the body of the mouth-piece with itsgutter extension to permit the same to yield when meeting withobstructions, and means for normally maintaining and restoring themouthpiece extension into alined position With the body of themouth-piece.

10. In a street sweeping machine, pneumatic collecting means includingan elongated mouth-piece disposed transversely of the machine and havinga gutter extension projected laterally beyond the machine, means forpivotally mounting the extension and for normally maintaining the samein alined position with the body of the mouthpiece ovhile permitting thesame to yield in meeting'obstruction, said gutter extension comprisingfront and rear walls pivoted to the corresponding walls of the body ofthe mouth-piece, and a top portion having a flexible part to permit theswinging movement.

11. In a street sweeping machine, pneumatic collecting means includingan elongated mouth-piece disposed transversely of the machine and havinga gutter extension projected laterally beyond themachine, means forpivotally mounting the extension and for normally maintaining the samein alined position with the body of the mouthpiece while permittingthe'same to yield in meeting obstruction, said gutter extensioncomprising front and rear walls pivoted to the corresponding walls ofthe body of the mouth-piece, and a top portion having a flexible part topermit the swinging movement, said top part being fixed at one edge tothe adjacent wall of the extension and slidably attached at its oppositeedge to the other wall of the extension.

12. In a street sweeping machine, pneumatic collecting means includingan elongated mouth-piece disposed transversely of the machine and havinga gutter extension projected laterally beyond the machine, means forpivotally mounting the extension and for normally maintaining the samein alined position with the body of the mouthpiece while permitting thesame to yield in meeting obstruction, saidgutter extension comprisingfront and rear walls pivoted to the corresponding walls of the body ofthe mouth-piece, and a top portion having a flexible part to permit theswinging movement, the flexible top extending downwardly to constitutean independently yieldable toepiece.

13. In a street sweeping machine, pneumatic collecting means includingan elongated mouth-piece disposed transversely of the machine and havinga gutter extension projected laterally beyond the machine, means forpivotally mounting the extension and for normally maintaining the samein alined position with the body of the mouthpiece while permitting thesame to yield in meeting obstruction, said gutter extension comprisingfront and rear walls pivoted to messes the corresponding walls of thebody of the. mouth-piece, a top portion having a flexible part to permitthe swinging movement, the flexible top extending downwardly toconstitute an lndependently yieldable toe-piece, and a flexible aprondepending from the front of the extension and-secured to said toe-piece.

14. In a street sweeping machine, pneumatic collecting means includingan elongated mouth-piece disposed transversely of the machine and havinga tter extension projected laterally beyon the machine, means forpivotally mounting the extension and for normally maintaining the samein alined position with the body of the mouthpiece while permitting thesame to yield in meeting obstruction, said gutter extension comprisingfront and I631 walls pivoted to the corresponding walls of the body ofthe mouth-piece, a top portion having a flexible part to permit theswinging movement, the flexible top extending downwardly to constitutean independently yieldable toe-piece, the slidable connection beingconstituted by a binding aflixed to the edge-of the mouthpiece formed toride upon the top edge of the adjacent wall of the extension, and amovable connection between said wall and said binding to hold the topagainst displacement relative to saidwall. 15. In a street sweepingmachine, pneumatic collecting means including an elongated mouth-piecehaving a gutter extension projecting laterally of the machine, means forivoting the gutter extension to the body of t e mouth-piece, means formaintaining the gutter extension in alinement with the mouth-piece whilepermitting the same to yield under obstruction, the extension comprisingfront and rear walls, and a flexible top part; v

16. In a street sweeping machine, pneumatic collecting means includingan elongated mouth-piece having a gutter extension projecting laterallyof the machine, means for ivoting the gutter extension to the body of te mouth-piece, means for maintaining the gutter extension alinement withthe mouth-piecewhile permitting the same to yield under obstruction, theextension comprising front and rear walls and a flexible top part, andthe pivotal connectlons for the front and rear walls being out ofalinement, substantially as described.

17. In a street sweeping machine, pneumaticcollecting means including'anelongated mouth-piece having a gutter extension projecting laterally ofthemachine, means for pivoting the gutter extension to the body of themouth-piece, means for maintaining the gutter extension in alinementwith the mouth-piece while permitting the same to' yield underobstruction, the extension comprising front and rear walls and aflexible gutter device.

top part the pivotal connections for the front and rear walls being outof alinement, and a link connection between the front and rear Walls.

18. A street sweeping machine'com-prising pneumatic collecting meansincludmg an elongated mouth-piece disposed transversely of the machinehaving agutter extension projected outwardly from the machine andmounted to swing when meeting obstruction, a device fOr disturbing thegutter accumu-- lations mounted to swing with the -mouthpiece extension,and a link connection be tween the mouth-piece extension and the said19. A street sweeping machine comprising pneumatic collecting meansincluding an elongated mouth-piece disposed transversely of the machinehaving a gutter extension projected outwardly from the machine andmounted to swing when meeting obstruction, a device for disturbin.thegutter accumulations mounted to swmg with the mouthpiece extension,and a link connection between the mouth-piece extension and the saidgutter device, the mouth-piece extension comprising hinged front andrear walls united by a flexible top, and a link bridging said front andrear walls. v

20. In a street sweeping machine,'t'he combination with a main brush andpneumatic collecting means including an elongated nozzle, an adjustableconnecting device for spacing the nozzle from the main brush, and acoupling uniting the adjusting device to 100 the mouth-piece including ahinge post having an extension, and a gutter attachment mounted toswing'on said post.

21. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with a main brush andpneumatic collecting means including an elongated nozzle, an. adjustableconnecting device'for spacing the nozzle from the main brush, a couplinguniting the adjusting device to the mouth-piece including a hingeposthaving an extension, and a gutter attachment mounted to swing onsaid post, said coupling also including a bracket secured tothemouthpiece having a brace extending from the upper ontion thereof tostay the upper end of 115 the 'nge post.

22. In a street sweeping machine, pneumatic collecting means includingan elongated mouth-piece, means for throwing the street accumulationstoward said moutlipiece, and an apron depending from that Wall of themouth-piece remotely related to said throwing means, said apron beingformed of flexible material, and means for piece and an apron dependingfrom that wall of the mouth-piece remotely related to said throwingmeans, said apron being fluence of the pneumatic conducting means,

and a sectional apron depending from that wall of the mouth-pieceremotelyrelated to said instrumentali-ties, the sections of the apronoverlapping and permitting a freedom .I of movement therebetween at theline of swinging movement of the gutter extension.

25. In a street sweep-ing'machine, pneumatic collecting means includingan elongated nozzle having a gutter extension projected laterally of themachine and mounted to swing with reference to the body of the nozzleupon meeting obstruction, and means for normally maintaining and forrestoring the 'body and gutter extension of the-mouthpiece in alinementcomprising a projecting part of the extension ada ted to normallycontact part'of the body 0 the mouth-piece but to move away therefromupon swinging of the gutter extension, and a spring secured at one endto said projection and at its other end to a part of the body of themouthpiece to pull the projection and therethrough the gutter extensiontion.

26. Inv a street sweeping machine, pneumatic collecting means includingan elongated mouh-piece having a gutter extension projected laterally ofthe machine and mounted to swing with reference to the body of themouth-piece upon meeting obstruction, means for restoring the gutterextension to normal position when passing the obstruction including aspring operatively associated with the body of the mouth-piece and itsextension and abutting portions between the latter to limit theaction ofthe spring.

27. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with means forreleasing the street accumulations and other means for collecting thesame, means for mounting both of said means to swing in a planeapproximately parallel to the street surface while maintaining operativeassociation therewith, and means for normally holding the releasing andcollecting means in extended pos1- back to normal position forpermitting them to yield on meet ing obstructions.

28. In a street sweeping machine, means for releasing the streetaccumulations, pneumatic collecting means operatively associatedtherewith in combination with means for mounting said releasing andcollecting means to permit the same to swing in a plane approximatelyparallel to the street surface, and means for normally holding thereleasing and collecting means in extended position for permitting themto yield on meeting obstructions.

'29. In a street sweeping machine, releasing means for the streetaccumulations comprising a plurality of jet nozzles, and pneumaticcollecting means opcratively associated therewith, in combination withmeans for mounting said releasing and collecting means for swinginmovement in a plane approximately paral el to the street surface.

30. In a. street sweeping machine, releas-- ing means for the streetaccumulations comprlsing a, blower, and a multitude of air jet devicesdisposed to discharge upon the street surface, some of said air jetdevices projecting outwardly in one direction while the others projectin the opposite direction, substantially as described.

31. In a street sweepmg machine, releasing means for the streetaccumulations comprlsin a blower, a multitude of air jet devices isposedto discharge upon the street surface, collecting means adjacent to saidair jet devices to carry off the released accumulations, and means forprojecting the releasing and collecting means laterally beyond the bodyof the machine to operate in a gutter and permittin lateral yieldingthereof on contact with t e curbing.

32. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with pneumaticcollecting means, of means for releasing street accumulationsoperativ'ely associated with said collecting means, means for mountingsaid releasing and collecting means ,to adapt them for op eration in agutter, and means for normally tion and restoring the device to normalposition upon passing the obstruction.

3 f. In astreet sweeping machine, the combination with pneumaticcollecting means, of means for releasinostreet accumulations operativelyassociated with said collecting means, and means for mounting saidrelease naeaeoe ing and collecting means to adapt them for I operationin a gutter, said releasing means comprising means for discharging amultitude of jets of air onto the street surface with some of the jetsdirected toward the curb and others directed away from the curb.

36. In a street sweeping machine, a main brush, pneumatic collectingmeans associated therewith including an elongated mouth-piece disposedtransversely of the machine, and a gutter attachment including apneumatic collecting extension, and means associated therewith forreleasing the gutter accumulations including a multi-air jet deviceadapted to discharge upon the street toward the curb and the other jetstoward the body of the machine.

37 In a street sweeping machine, a main brush, pneumatic collectingmeans associated therewith including an elongated mouthpiece disposedtransversely of the machine, a gutter attachment including a pneumaticcollecting extension, means associated therewith for releasing thegutter accumulations including a multi-air jet device adapted todischarge upon the street. surface, the outermost jets being directedtoward the curb and the other jets toward the body of the machine, andinstrumentalities for pivotally mounting the gutter attachment to permitthe same to swing upon meeting obstruction and to restore the same whenthe obstruction is passed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

, BERNARD KERN. Witnesses:

L. N. WERNER, LEWIS A. Brain.

